Key events
Latest scores: in Group C, Inter, away to Viktoria Plzen, lead 1-0, while in Group D, Sporting and Spurs are goalless. Follow that game here with Scott Murray:
Preamble
“The Champions League group stages are a waste of time and just a way for Uefa and the clubs to harvest more money” is a frequent refrain around this time of year, and rightly so: loads of games to eliminate only half the teams with half of those earning a playoff to enter the Europa League instead, before the richest ones contest the knockouts. Football is the winner!
Well, perhaps not this term. Though the competition still serves the interests of Baron Mammon, its early stages look pretty tasty and tonight should be a belter.
At Anfield, Liverpool, who were lucky to escape with a mere 4-1 battering in Naples last week, take on Ajax, who were brilliant in dismantling Rangers 4-0. Jürgen Klopp talked yesterday of “five days of truth,” during which his players have been forced to confront themselves, and he’ll hope that as encounter with what they think is rock bottom inspires them to compete properly tonight. However, it remains the case that their physical, hyperactive style is exhausting not just just to play against but to play, and Ajax, in great form with Mohammed Kudus on a ridiculous buzz, will demand the kind of mental and athletic effort of which the collective that may no longer be capable.
That game and group would be enough on their own, but there’s more – loads more. Because not only do we have Bayern Munich v Barcelona after both teams were impressive in victory last week, but with the additional kicker of Robert Lewandowski returning to Bavaria and Internazionale hoping to pip one or other to a last-16 spot.
Then, elsewhere, we’ve got Eintracht Frankfurt visiting Marseille – expect the atmosphere there to be the hot side of steaming – and Club Brugge, who beat Leverkusen in glorious fashion the other day – trying their luck against Porto. Here we go!
Kick-offs: 8pm BST